March | 2012 | Culinary Tuesdays

Archive | March, 2012

March 30, 2012

Guacamole

Makes approximately 2 cups: Serving Size 2 Tbsp. Weight Watcher Points + 1 ~ Calories 39.5 ~ Fat 3.4 g ~ Carbs 2.6 g ~ Fiber 1.6 g ~ Protein 0.6 g

Guacamole is a heart healthy Mexican dip that can be served with all types of food. I even top my salads with guacamole, using it as a creamy salad dressing. It wasn’t too long ago when avocado’s were thought to be “bad” for you due to the high caloric and fat contents. However; avocado is actually a power food. It is high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and assists with the absorption of antioxidants in other food it is paired with, especially salads. So, eat up & enjoy this flavorful guac!! Read More…

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March 27, 2012

Peanut Butter and Banana Waffle

Nutrition: Weight Watchers Points + 5 ~ Calories 247.9 ~ Fat 11.4 g ~ Saturated Fat 1.9 g ~ Carbs 32.2 g ~ Fiber 3.0 g ~ Protein 6.2 g

I’m very excited to share with you one my son’s favorite breakfasts. Peanut Butter & Banana Waffles are our family’s “go to” breakfast during the week. Everyone of all ages will love this! My son has been eating this since he was a year old. Now, my son is 3 and he has never had syrup on his waffles. Instead, he gets a protein packed breakfast with 2 fruit servings to start his day We love the strawberry waffles from Eggo, it kinda taste like you are eating a PB&J sammy minus all the sugar! This is a super simple breakfast or snack that you could make it at work, if you have a toaster oven (I do!). Read More…

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March 25, 2012

Chocolate Chip & Yogurt Oatmeal Cookies

Weight Watcher Points + 2 ~ Calories 92.8 ~ Fat 1.1 g ~ Carbohydrate 19.5 g ~ Fiber 0.9 g ~ Protein 2.1 g

Chocolate Chip & Yogurt Oatmeal Cookies are low fat and “healthier” option to settle your sweet tooth. These soft, chewy, ooey & gooey cookies are versatile since you could eat them as breakfast, a snack or even dessert. Enjoy!!

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March 23, 2012

Indian Chicken Curry

Nutrition per drumstick: Weight Watchers Points + 3 ~ Calories 111.7 ~ Total Fat 3.7 g ~ Carbs 5.4 g ~ Fiber 0.8 g ~ Protein 12.5 g

Chicken Curry is an easy breezy dish to make on a weeknight. I picked up some curry powder from Trader Joe’s a few weeks ago because I had received several emails & questions regarding how to use curry powder in lieu of garam masala. I normally don’t use curry powder but I bought it and used it in this dish due to popular request…… I do have to say that I can see using curry powder if you don’t really use a lot of tumeric, mustard, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg & saffron on a daily basis. The chicken curry was quite tasty; I did have to add more cumin powder for more of an “ethnic” taste. Read More…

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March 20, 2012

Skinny Chicken Parmesan

Skinny Chicken Parmesan is the way to go for a figure friendly & family friendly meal. Serve this with salad or veggies for a complete meal. By using a mixture of panko & breadcrumbs you will get a crunchy coating when baking…so, no frying is needed This meal is a great “prep-ahead” meal that can be warmed later in the week. I used homemade marinara sauce. ENJOY!!

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March 16, 2012

Homemade Marinara Sauce

Makes 5 servings of 1 cup each. Nutrition per cup: Weight Watchers Points + 2 ~ Calories 115.6 ~ Fat 2.4 g ~ Carbs 21.7 g ~ Fiber 6.3 g ~ Protein 4.5 g

Marinara sauce is a popular, robust Italian sauce made with tomatoes, onions, and herbs. A lot of times you will hear this sauce called “gravy.” Marinara sauce is usually a little spicier than other standard tomato sauces due to the amount of garlic & a little crushed red pepper. This sauce is easy to prepare but needs to cook for about 3 hrs. It is versatile and can be used in various Italian dishes, you can also transform marinara into a fantastic cream sauce (vodka sauce w/o the vodka). Once you make a big batch, store it in the freezer. Beware…..once you make your own sauce, you will no longer enjoy the jarred stuff.

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March 13, 2012

Sausage & Kale Lasagna Soup

Makes 5 servings of 2 cups . Nutrition: Weight Watchers Points + 7 ~ Calories 282.9 ~ Fat 10.3 g ~ Carbs 34.9 g ~ Fiber 7.2 g ~ Protein 12.9 g

Sausage & Kale Lasagna soup is flavorful and healthy. The nutrition for this dish is for a serving size of 2 cups (huge portion for little calories/points) !! If you have some calories/points to spare…..dollop the optional cheese mix on top of your bowl of soup for an extra creamy true lasagna taste. If you are making this ahead of time….. Once the soup is complete; cool & store in the fridge for later in the week. The day that you want to serve: Heat soup mixture in microwave while you are boiling the pasta. Once both are complete…serve with cheese on top. Leftovers taste great and are perfect to take to work. ENJOY!! Read More…

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March 11, 2012

Banana Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Makes 18 Muffins. Nutrition per muffin: Weight Watchers Points + 3 ~Calories 139.1 ~ Fat 2.6 g ~ Carbs 26.4 g ~ Fiber 2.3 g ~ Protein 3.5 g

How could you go wrong with all of these flavors: Banana, Pumpkin & Chocolate Chips? Muffins are an easy grab & go breakfast…don’t make the mistake of purchasing them when you could whip up a batch in no time. Store bought muffins are made with tons of butter & oil, which are not a good option for a healthy diet . My muffins are made with NO butter or oil (except for cooking spray) however; they are NOT lacking in taste or texture. I have no problem serving these to my 3 year old son for breakfast or a snack. Its a well balanced muffin…..fruit, veggies,yogurt & oatmeal!! Read More…

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March 9, 2012

Huevos Rancheros Cups

Makes 6 Huevos Rancheros Cups. Weight Watchers Points + 4 ~ Calories 163.4 ~ Fat 8.9 g ~ Carbohydrate 8.9 g ~ Fiber 4.5 g ~ Protein 13.7 g

Craving some Mexican for breakfast? So was I when I created these Huevos Rancheros Cups for breakfast. This dish is perfect for Sunday brunch. All the flavors compliment each other and reminded me of our vacation at the Riviera Maya…. Making them in the muffin tins ensure perfect portion control. Leftovers can be easily warmed in the microwave for a quick grab & go breakfast. A dish that looks fancy, but is super simple to put together.

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March 6, 2012

Skinny Spinach Mac and Cheese

Makes 7 servings. Approximately 1/2 cup per serving. Nutrition: Weight Watchers Points + 4~ Calories 133.6 ~Fat 5.1 g ~Carbs 12.8 g ~ Fiber 1.7 g ~ Protein 10.2 g

“Skinny” Spinach Mac & Cheese can be enjoyed as a side dish or a meal. How is it “skinny”? I re-vamped the recipe to include whole wheat elbow macaroni, chicken broth, reduced fat cheese & skim milk. It does not taste or look skinny….. So give it a try! Don’t worry; we won’t let anyone know that it is healthy for them; it will be our secret